Orbán courts diaspora vote for 2014 election
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged Hungary’s large ethnic diaspora on Wednesday to exercise their newly-won right to vote in next year’s national election, hoping they will help to further cement his grip on power, local media has reported.
Several million ethnic Hungarians live in neighboring Romania, Serbia and Ukraine and elsewhere, descendants of Hungarians who found themselves outside their homeland when the country’s borders were redrawn at the end of World War I.
Using a change in citizenship rules pushed through by Orbán’s governing conservative Fidesz party, nearly half a million members of the diaspora have applied for Hungarian citizenship, which gives them the right to register to take part in elections, including a parliamentary vote expected next April or May.
“I count on your support just like you can count on the support of the Hungarian government and my personal support,” Orbán was quoted as telling representatives of the diaspora at a meeting in parliament.
According to Hungarian National Election Office, about 50,000 outside of Hungary are expected to vote in the next election.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hungary PMI Edges up to 47.4 in September
Ukraine Suspends OTP Status on 'Sponsors of War' List
Karikó and Weissman Receive 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine
Pálinka Added to EU-Japan Geographical Indication Deal
SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.
